Free Web Tutorial

Get help identifying which government agencies your small business should target for contracts in this webinar on Sept. 26.

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is spreading their marketing message around haphazardly and wasting time and money on people who will never become customers.

The same goes for small business owners who want to sell to the government.

The webinar next Wednesday "will equip business owners with the tools and methodologies to determine the right agencies to pursue for business success. Mastering the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) will help participants understand what their top agencies buy, who they bought it from, when they bought it, and the procurement method used to buy it. This interactive session will leave participants with an understanding of who their top five federal agencies are."

Register at the link above. The web tutorial takes place at noon Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern time. Gotta love free stuff!

Home Is Where the Kitchen Is

For decades, most states have required food producers to whip up their concoctions in commercial kitchens.

The recession has changed that. Would-be entrepreneurs are pushing for changes that would allow them to make non-potentially hazardous food products at home and sell them to the public.

My column this week examines the "baker's bill" movement, with particular reference to recent legislation in California and South Carolina.

Just Say No

This is why I never, ever, ever agree to anything proposed over an unsolicited phone call.

Thanks to the Do Not Call list, I rarely get those calls anymore, though I have gotten a couple just recently.

But I have no trouble giving them a resounding, "No," or a "Send me something in writing and I'll consider it," when I do. Not surprisingly, they never follow up.

Shame on these charities for using deceptive tactics, and rather shocking, given how well-known they are. Bravo to Bloomberg Markets for an excellent investigative piece. Glad journalism is still digging in to things like this.

When You're Smiling

The whole world smiles with you - right?

But those in trouble, grieving, facing financial trouble and failing in business are often isolated and confused.

My column this week deals with the difficulties and contradictions of failure, something we don't understand or study enough.

Retail for the Non-Religious

Is there a market for small business to sell to the godless?

My column this week explores the opportunity - check it out.

Book Length

I haven't written a book, but I'm lucky enough to know some talented people who have.

I am, however, what might be called an "avid" reader. My family sometimes calls me a fanatical reader.

So I enjoyed this discussion about book editing (which I do have some experience doing) and the optimal length for various kinds of books.

Negocios Hispanos

Hispanic entrepreneurs open twice as many businesses as the national average, but  lag behind in revenue and employees.

I write about what keeps Hispanic business owners from growing larger and becoming as successful as their non-Hispanic counterparts in this week's column.